Lock



June 20, 1939. J. F. THOMAS LOCK Filed Oct. 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Atiorneys Julie 1939- J. F. THOMAS LOCK Filed Oct. 18, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor JOSEPH 1." 72/0/14/25,

Attorneys Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES harem OFFIQE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in sealed locks of the padlock, orshackle, type.

The invention is designed with the particular purpose in view ofequipping a padlock with a detachable tell-tale seal preventingunlocking of the lock and providing visible and positive proof that thelock has been tampered with.

Another object is to provide a lock of the character above identifiedwith a seal functioning in the manner above set forth and interlockedwith the shackie of the lock thereby obviating the necessity forseparate attaching means for the seal.

Another object is to equip a padlock with an identification seal held inplace by the lock shackle and in a position such that the data thereonmay be easily read when the lock is attached in pendent position.

Still another object is to provide a lock equipped. as above specifiedand adapted for use in the usual manner as a padlock, or, to be fixed toa safety deposit box, or the like, so as to block access to the keyholeof said box until unlocked.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subrdinate objects presentlyappearing, my invention has been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and definedin the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a preferred embodiment of mypadlock, with the parts shown in locking position.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the parts shown in unlocking position.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation with the front plate removed andshowing the parts in looking position and drawn to anenlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of a modified embodiment of theinvention with the parts shown in looking position.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view of the modified embodiment of the invention with thefront section removed and showing the parts in looking position in fulllines and the shackle in unlocking position in dotted lines.

Figure 7 is a view in transverse section taken on line 'l-'l of Figure4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 8 is a view in front elevation of another modified embodiment ofthe invention.

Figure 9 .is a similar view with the seal removed.

Figure 10 is a view in edge elevation of said other modified embodimentof the invention.

Figure 11 is a view in section taken on the line i-l i of Figure 10looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 12 is a view in rear elevation of the front section of said othermodified embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view in transverse section taken on the linel3|3 of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings by numerals and first to the preferredembodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, in this embodimentof the invention the lock comprises .a flat body a portion l of anysuitable metal and including a back section 2 and a front plate 3suitably secured to section 2, as at 3. 'The backsection 2 is groovedalong the side edges thereof, as at t and 5, to receive astaple-likeshackle 6 hav-' ing a long leg. longitudinally slidable androtatable in groove 4 and a short leg 8 slidable into and out of the topof groove 5. Also endwise slidable in the groove 5 below the short leg 8and for a purpose presently seen is a keeper bolt 9.

Sliding movement of the legs I and 8 inwardly of the body I is limitedby engagement of the extremity of the long leg I with the bottom of thegroove 4, engagementof the short leg 8 withthe upper end of the bolt 9,and engagement of the lower end of bolt 9 with the bottom of groove 5.The back section 2 and plate 3 are apertured adjacent to the bottomedges thereof to provide a transversely extending through slot iii insaid body bisecting the grooves 4 and 5 adjacent to the bottom of thelatter. The top and bottom walls of the slot l0 incline downwardly andforwardly. The purpose of the slot it will presently appeaiz Outwardsliding movement of the shackle t is limited by a collar II on the shortleg l engaging the upper end of an enlarged portion l2 of groove 4, thedegree of such movement being just sufficient for the short leg 8 to bewithdrawn from groove 5 and the shackle swung by rotating the leg 1 ingroove 4. Outward sliding movement of bolt 9 is limited by a collar l3and an enlargement M of groove 5 in the same manner as described withreference to the shackle 6. In the limits of outward movement of shackle6 and bolt 9 the extremity of leg and the lower end of bolt 9 aresubstantially flush with the upper wall of slot id. The lower portionoffthe back section 2 is chambered, as at 15, the chamber opening intothe bottom of groove '4. A locking dog ,lfi for the shackle 6 ispivoted, as at -l l, in said chamber for movement in opposite directionsinto and from engagement with a locking notch H3 in the long leg 1,engagement of the dog I6 with notch I 8 being permitted in the limit ofinward movement of said shackle. A suitably arranged leaf spring I 9 inthe chamber l yieldingly urges the dog I6 in the proper direction toengage the same'with said notch l8. The locking dog I6 is movable in theopposite direction by means of a dog operating plunger 20 mounted in thevertical center of the section 2 to extend through the chamber I5 andout of the bottom of said body, said plunger being endwise slidableinwardly and outwardly to project its upper end into and retract thesame from the slot I0. Under inward movement" of said plunger 20 alateral lug 22 thereon is en: gaged with a lug 23 on said dog l6 and thelatter thereby moved in said opposite direction to disengage the samefrom the notch I8. A collar 24 on said plunger 20 engaging the bottomwall of the chamber [5 establishes the outward limit of movement of saidplunger in which position the upper end of the plunger is withdrawn fromslot l0. A socket 25 is provided in the section 2 into which the plunger20 may be projected to limit inward movement thereof.

The described lock is sealed by means of an elongated tag-like seal 26of any suitable material, preferably metal, proportioned to, fit intothe slot IE! and having formed therein a pair of transversely extendingslots 2'! adjacent opposite ends thereof, respectively, for theprojection of the leg I and bolt 9 therethrough, whereby said seal inthe limit of inward movement of the shackle 6 is secured to the body 5in a position suchthat inward movement of the plunger 2!), and hencedisengaging or unlocking operation of the dog I6, is blocked. The seal26 may have delineated thereon any desired indicia such as an ownersname and serial number, as shown in Figure 4.

The operation of the described embodiment of the invention will bereadily understood. Suffice it to explain that the seal 26 is interposedin the 1 slot ill in the outward limits of movement of the shackle 6 andbolt 9, the shackle then slid inwardly to thrust the long leg 1 throughone slot 21 and the bolt 9 through the other, and said shackle and boltslid inwardly to the limit of inward movement thereof, whereupon thelocking dog IE will move under the urge of spring l9 into the lockingnotch l8, with a snap action and thus lock the shackle 6 againstwithdrawal and the seal 26 in place. To eifect unlocking, the plunger 26must be forward inwardly to perforate the seal 25. The rest of theinterlocking operation has already been described.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and '7 the body 29of the lock comprises a rear section 36 and a front section 3| securedtogether, as at 32, and constructed to provide a transversely extendingslot 33 adjacent the bottom of the body, similar to slot [0, a straightsided shackle guideway 34 in said body extending from the slot 33 to thetop of said body, and a pair of side grooves 35 in said body below theslot 33 forming continuationsof the sides of the guideway 34 and closedat the bottoms thereof. The shackle, in this instance, is slidableinwardly and outwardly and comprises a pair of terminal legs 36 fittinginto said grooves 35 to establish the inward limit of movement of theshackle and extending through the slot'33 in said limit of movement,an'intermediate web3'l slidably fitting in the guideway 34, and a hookedupper end 38, the terminal of which is interposed in the guideway 34 insaid inward limit of movement of the shackle. A spring pressed lockingdog 33 coacting with a locking notch 40 in one leg 36, together with adog operating plunger 4| and seal 42 are provided in this embodiment ofthe invention all as described with reference to the preferredembodiment with the exception that both legs 36 of the shackle, in thisinstance, pass through the slots 43 of said seal and secure the latterin place. The sections 30 and 3| are apertured, as at 44, for thepassage of a key through the body 29, said apertures being located inthe vertical center of said body and so that in the inward limit ofmovement of the shackle, the web 31 blocks communication between saidapertures and thereby prevents the insertion of a key therethrough. Boltor screw holes 45 are provided in the side edges of the body 29 so thatsaid body may be secured to a deposit box, or a drawer, not shown, withthe apertures 44 in registration with the keyhole, indicated in dottedline at 46 in Figure 4, of said box, or drawer, whereby in the limit ofinward movement of the shackle access to the keyhole is blocked and maynot be had until the shackle is unlocked and shifted into a positionsuch that an aperture 31 therein registers with apertures 44. As will beapparent the above described lock may be used as an ordinary padlockas-well as in the capacity above described.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 13,

the body 4'! of the lock comprises a pair of front central piercingprong 54 slidable into and out of a radial bore 55' in said section 48to attach the lock to a bag or the like. The sections 48 and 49 are eachprovided with a pair of parallel elongated slots 56 and 51 on oppositesides of the axis of the section, respectively, so arranged that underrelative rotation of said sections the slots of one pair may be movedinto and out of registration with those of the other pair. The slots 56of section 48 extend at right angles to the bores 5i and bisect the saidbores. A latching bolt 58 is slidably mounted in a recess 59 in the rearsection 48 for movement in opposite directions into and from engagementwith a locking notch 63 provided in one leg 53. A suitably arranged coilspring 58 urges the bolt 58 in an engaging direction. The piercing pin54 is adapted to en gage the bottom of the bore 55 and establish thelimit of inward movement of the shackle 52 in which limit said notchregisters with said bolt 58. The rear section 48 is provided with acircular recess 6| concentric to the axial stud 49' and opening into therecess 59. A bolt operating segment 62 is slidably fitted in said recessSI for endwise sliding movement therein into engagement with a collar 63on said bolt 58 to thereby operate the latter into disengaging positionin opposition to the spring 58. A stud 64 is provided on the section 49to extend into the recess 6| and move the segment 62, the arrangementbeing such that under rotation of section 49 in one direction from aposition in which the slots. 56 and 51 register, said stud 64 willengage and move said segment 62 and thereby cause the latter to operatethe latch bolt 58 to disengaging position. On the other hand, underrotation of said section 49 in the opposite direction until said slots56 and 51 again register, said spring 58 will project said bolt 58 intoa position such that when the shackle is slid into the bores to thelimit of its inward movement, the bolt 58 will engage notch 60 with asnap action.

In the embodiment described in the immediately preceding paragraph, aflexible, or semifiexible, rectangular shield 65 is utilized of a lengthsuch that the ends thereof may be interposed in the registering slots56, 51 and a pair of slots 66 are provided in each of said ends forprojection of the legs 53 through said ends. As will be obvious, underrotation of the section 49 in either direction out of a position inwhich slots 55 and 51 register, the slots 51 will be moved into angularrelation to slots 56, as shown for instance by dotted lines in Figure 8,and thereby cause the ends of said shield 65 to be sheared off, theedges of said slots 5! functioning as shearing means. Thus theunauthorized operation of the lock will be clearly indicated.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clearunderstanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, other modifications of the invention than those disclosedmay be resorted to without departing from the inventive concept andright is herein reserved to such other modifications as fall within thescope of the subjoined claims.

What I claimis:

1. A look of the class described comprising a body provided with atransverse slot therein, a shackle mounted in said body for endwisesliding movement inwardly and outwardly thereof, and through said slot,means to lock said shackle to said body against outward movementrendered effective under inward movement of the shackle and operative tounlock the same, an unlocking member movable to operate said lockingmeans, and a sealing member disposed in said slot and penetrated by theshackle whereby said sealing member is secured in said slot by saidshackle to block such movement of said unlocking memher.

2. A look of the class described comprising a body provided with atransverse slot therein, a shackle mounted in said body for endwisesliding movement inwardly and outwardly thereof, and through said slot,means to lock said shackle to said body against outward movementrendered effective under inward movement of the shackle, and operativeto unlock the same, an unlocking member movable to operate said lockingmeans, and a sealing member of frangible material disposed in said slotand obstructing such movement of said unlocking member, said shacklepenetrating said sealing member and thereby securing the same in saidslot, said unlocking member comprising a plunger manipulative to projectthe same into said slot and through said member as an incident tooperation of said looking means by said member.

3. A look of the class described for attachment to a drawer or the likeover a keyhole in said drawer comprising a body having a throughaperture therein for registration with said keyhole in the attachedposition of the look, a slide having an aperture therein and mounted insaid body for endwise movement inwardly and outwardly of said body toshift said aperture into and out of registration with respect to saidkeyhole, means to lock said slide to said body against outward movementrendered effective under inward movement of said slide and operative tounlocking position, an unlocking member to operate said locking means,and a sealing member secured to said body by said slide and blockingsuch movement of said unlocking member.

4. A lock of the class described including a body comprising a pair ofdisk-like front and rear sections each provided with a pair of slotstherein pivotelly secured together for relative rotation to revolve saidpairs of slots into and out of registration one pair with the other, ashackle endwise slidable in one section inwardly and outwardly thereofand through the pair of slots thereof, means to lock said shackle tosaid section rendered effective under inward movement of the shackle andoperative to unlocking position under relative rotation of said sectionsincident to revolving said slots out of registration, and. means toblock relative rotation of said sections comprising a strip-like sealhaving the opposite ends thereof secured in registering slots of saidpairs, respectively, by said shackle.

5. A look of the class described comprising a pair of disc-like bodysections secured together in axial relation for relative rotation insliding engagement, one of said sections being provided with a pair ofthrough parallel bores therein upon opposite sides of the axis thereof,respectively, each of said sections having a pair of parallel throughslots therein upon opposite sides of the axis thereof, respectively, theslots of one pair being movable into and out of registration with thoseof the other under relative rotation of the sections, a shackle slidableinto and out of said bores and through the slots of the bored section,means to lock said sections against relative rotation when the slots ofone pair are in registration with those of the other and operative tounlock said sections under relative rotation of the latter, said meanslocking said shackle against movement out of said bores, and a flexiblestrip-like seal having the opposite ends thereof extending into saidslots and apertured for the extension of the shackle therethroughwhereby under relative rotation of the sections to unlock said means theends of said seal will be torn by movement of said slots out ofregistration.

JOSEPH F. THOMAS.

